What's on in Khao Lak, Thailand through the year

Busy — Dry season, calm Andaman, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Dry season, calm Andaman (1 Nov – 20 Apr (usually))

Busy — Dry season, calm Andaman, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Manta and whale shark season

  1 Feb – 5 May · usuallyDive season

  The tail of the dive season at Richelieu Rock and Koh Bon, when the plankton is up and the big animals follow it. Never a sure thing, and the liveaboards sell those weeks first.

Still on: Dry season, calm Andaman (1 Nov – 20 Apr (usually))

Busy — Dry season, calm Andaman, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Manta and whale shark season (1 Feb – 5 May (usually)), Dry season, calm Andaman (1 Nov – 20 Apr (usually))

Peak crowds — Dry season, calm Andaman, Long summer break in Thailand

• Festival

  Songkran

  13–15 AprWater-festival New YearClosures

  Water fights on the main road and along the beach strip for three days, and a national shutdown around them. Buses to Phuket and Surat Thani book out either side. Source ↗

Still on: Manta and whale shark season (1 Feb – 5 May (usually)), Dry season, calm Andaman (1 Nov – 20 Apr (usually))

Busy — Long summer break in Thailand, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Southwest monsoon and red flags

  15 May – 31 Oct · usuallyRisk

  Rip currents on this stretch of coast are the real risk, and the red flags go up for weeks at a time. Half the beachfront shuts and the other half drops its rates to nothing.

• Closure

  Similan and Surin islands closed

  16 May – 14 Oct

  The park authority shuts both island groups for the monsoon every year, which takes the liveaboards and the day boats out with them. Khao Lak's dive shops largely close for the season. Source ↗

Still on: Manta and whale shark season (1 Feb – 5 May (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Southwest monsoon and red flags (15 May – 31 Oct (usually)), Similan and Surin islands closed (16 May – 14 Oct)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Southwest monsoon and red flags (15 May – 31 Oct (usually)), Similan and Surin islands closed (16 May – 14 Oct)

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Southwest monsoon and red flags (15 May – 31 Oct (usually)), Similan and Surin islands closed (16 May – 14 Oct)

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Southwest monsoon and red flags (15 May – 31 Oct (usually)), Similan and Surin islands closed (16 May – 14 Oct)

Busy — October semester break in Thailand, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Southwest monsoon and red flags (15 May – 31 Oct (usually)), Similan and Surin islands closed (16 May – 14 Oct)

Busy — Dry season, calm Andaman

• Season

  Dry season, calm Andaman

  1 Nov – 20 Apr · usuallyCrowded

  Flat water, no shore break and the whole coast open for business. This is the northern-European charter season and the beachfront runs at capacity from Christmas to March.

• Festival

  Loy Krathong

  5–30 Nov · usuallyMajor festival

  Baskets floated off the beach at the full moon rather than down a river, which is the quiet coastal version of it. Falls just as the season is reopening. Source ↗

Busy — Dry season, calm Andaman, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Dry season, calm Andaman (1 Nov – 20 Apr (usually))